Buckles (paftale) are an almost indispensable element of traditional women's dress in the Southeastern European area, particularly in the Balkans, and have been in use over a long period, from the 14th to the 20th century. The word pafta is of Turkic origin-possibly entering the language via Iranian influence-derived from the Persian word bafta, meaning "woven," which evolved in Turkish to signify "plate." Today, the term is used in nearly identical forms in Romanian (pafta), Bulgarian (пафта), Serbian (пафте), and some Aromanian dialects (pafta), designating functional and ornamental clothing accessories used to fasten belts, girdles, or sashes, crafted from various materials and decorated using different techniques. The three buckles decorated in the polychrome enamel technique, preserved in the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova, belong to the South-Danubian tradition and are dated to the late 19th - early 20th century.
Each buckle consists of two identical trapezoidal parts, their surfaces divided into three roughly equal registers, adorned with stylized vegetal motifs forming a metal lattice into which enamel is poured. The two parts extend into sharp angles at the ends, forming a triangle with the edge of the last decorative register, similarly ornamented. The enamel used to fill the floral motifs is black, turquoise, white, orange, green, yellow, and burgundy. The entire decorative field is framed by a beaded border.
On the reverse, both components retain a copper band riveted along the edge, used to fasten the ends of the belt. The fastening system, made by interlocking the hinges of the two parts and secured with a movable pin attached by a chain to a clasp fixed on one of the buckle pieces, is concealed by a rectangular plate (riveted with three pins to the body of the piece), with narrow edges ending in sharp angles, decorated in the same style and technique. Additionally, it features three circular settings with notched edges bent inward to hold centrally placed red and green glass paste. These settings are framed by a radiant, notched band.
The symbolism of the color palette encodes meanings and symbols, chosen for their believed magical powers. Red has always represented love, affection, and protection against curses and the evil eye; white symbolizes purity and spiritual and physical cleanliness; blue is symbolically associated with infinity, morning, new beginnings, and transformation; green represents destiny, hope, prosperity, balance, and rebirth, being linked to nature's revival each spring and to life itself.
On the question of competence of the Supreme Council of Bessarabian Oblast (August 28, 1816 - February 29, 1828)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Keywords: Bessarabia, the Charter on the Formation of the Bessarabian Oblast, the Supreme Council of the Bessarabian Oblast, the government of the Bessarabian Oblast, the civil governor, Viceroy (Namestnik) of the Bessarabian Oblast with plenipotentiary powers, Governor-General of New Russia and Bessarabia, Bessarabian Regional Criminal Court, Bessarabian Regional Civil Court.
Abstract: The Supreme Council of the Bessarabian Oblast as the supreme legislative, administrative and judicial authority of Bessarabia was formed from among the members of the two departments of the regional government on August 28, 1816, reorganized (in the source - established) on April 29, 1818 and authorized to carry out the organizational, administrative, economic, and judicial functions.
After the Charter on the Formation of the Bessarabian Oblast was adopted on April 29, 1918, the administrative and judicial power in the region was held by the Supreme Council. Its competence includes monitoring and verification of all matters relating to decision-making in the executive, public and economic spheres, criminal and procedural affairs, and civil law; it was as well involved in all matters relating to movable, immovable, and land property. Its decisions, being approved by a majority vote, were not subject to appellate review and implemented immediately. Those who did not agree with a decision of the Supreme Council could appeal against this decision to the State Council through the Minister of Justice or the General Prosecutor.
The decisions of special importance, which required further amendments or new resolutions, were considered at the general meeting of the Supreme Council on the proposal of the Governor-General, or, in his absence, the civil governor. The amendments were to be submitted for approval to the State Council by the Governor-General or the General Prosecutor.
The Supreme Council consisted of 11 members: five members appointed (Namestnik (who held the office of President), the Governor, Deputy Governor, presidents of criminal and civil courts) and six members elected by the local nobility for a period of 3 years, whose appointment was to be confirmed by the Namestnic of Bessarabia and the regional marshal of the nobility. The Supreme Council Decisions were approved by a quorum of 6 people and were final.
The Supreme Council included: the Namestnik of Bessarabia (who held the office of President) - Lieutenant-Genral M.S. Vorontsov; the civil governor - the official of 4th grade Catacazi; deputy governor - the official of 5th grade Krupensky; the regional marshal of the nobility - the official of 6th grade Sturdza; the president of criminal court - the official of 5th grade Kurik; the president of the civil court - the official of 6th grade Basota as well as 4 deputes: officials of 11th grade Katargi and Donici, the official of 7th grade Pruncul, and the official of 6th grade Kazimir.
Particularly important issues and matters relating to changes to the normative acts were considered at plenary meetings of the Supreme Council, on the proposal of the Namestnik of Bessarabia, or, in his absence, on the proposal of the civil governor. Taken decisions, accompanied by an explanatory note of the President of the Council, through the General Prosecutor, were dispatched for the approval to the State Council. If the discussed issues were of minor importance, the presence of the President of the Supreme Council at the meetings was not mandatory. In the absence of the President, the Supreme Council presidency was taken over by the person who held the highest office in the administrative hierarchy of Bessarabia.
The Supreme Council of Bessarabia was abolished by the Regulation of February 29, 1828.
Valentin Tomuleț
The numerical dynamic and the social structure of the population of Tabani village, in Hotin county, according to the fiscal censuses in the 1820s-1850s
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Valentin Tomuleț
Jewish colonies in Bessarabia in the 19th century
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Valentin Tomuleț
Historiographical considerations regarding the status of ruptashi in Bessarabia under Tsarist domination (1812-1847)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Valentin Tomuleț
The legal status of călărași in Bessarabia: from Moldovan traditions to the Russian imperial administrative system
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Valentin Tomuleț
Maria Danilov, Cenzura sinodală și cartea religioasă în Basarabia. 1812-1918 (între tradiție și politica țaristă), Biblioteca Tyragetia XIII. – Chișinău, 2007 (Tipogr. „Bons Offi ces”), 264 p.
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Buckles (paftale) are an almost indispensable element of traditional women's dress in the Southeastern European area, particularly in the Balkans, and have been in use over a long period, from the 14th to the 20th century....
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
